Hammock



May 15, 1945. Q H` KEARNY v 2,375,792'

' HAMMOCK Filed 00T.. 19, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l Figi.

121 22 :94 l 15 2 zi ,2o 25h 556 5455 9J A L97 /NvEm-on Cresson H.Kearny 4f JZ; A Q; BY fiw f ATTORNEYS k May'15, 1945. `c. H. KEARNYHAMMOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filedl Oct. 19. 1942 1 /750 Cresson H. Kearny May 15, `1945. c. H.KEARNY 2,375,792

HAMMocK Filed oct. 19, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 5 gmc/whom Cresson H. Kearny`of the hammockpand Patented May` 15, 1945 Cresson H.

Kearny, United States Army, Fort Clayton, C. Z. I

Application October 19, 1942, Serial No. 462,529

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) 11 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, Without payment tome `of anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates generally to hammocks `for campers orfor Armyuse, and more particularly to canopied hammocks offering completeprotection `against the elements and insects.

and they are secured: by grommets `passing through both layers of thefolded ends.

At the foot'end ofthe hammock there is provided the irregularly shapedmember I2 made from light weightduck or similar material. This memberAis sewed to the bottom I so that the edges 1I-12-13 of the member I 2`lielalongthe line sewed to the right-side of the bottom I and vvill` Itis anobject of this invention to provide a hammock which will offer alight Weight arrange ment combining the advantages of a tent, a sleepingbag and a mosquito bar, yet in such` form taht it will require a minimumof time and equipment for erection.

It is afurther object of this invention to provide I a device of thecharacter` described which will be suitable for general use in both hotand cold climates. I Y. .I

`These and other objects and advantages of the s invention will becomeapparent upon a consideration of the` following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which V Fig1 is an exploded view of the elements making up the body of the device;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the canopy; Fig. 3 is a plan View of thefalsebottom of the hammock;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of the body.

of the hammock;`

Fig 5 is a transverse cross-section of the body Fig. 6 is a viewinperspective of an embodiment of the invention as set up in the field.

`The methodof constructing a hammock ac- I cording to the inventionwillbe clear from a con- 11-82 of the bottom. The section 13-52 isextend approximately to the point 15. 'Similarly the section 1I10issewed along the left side of the bottom I and extends to the point 11i.4

To finish out the right side of the bottom'` I there are providedmembers 2 `an`d"3 constructed sideration of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Thenumeral `I lrepresents a piecey of relatively heavy material such ascanvas or duck,`from which is formed the bottom supporting member of thehammock. Adjacent the ends of the bottom I, are placed a series of holes83` and 90. The ends are then folded along the lines 18-81 and 85--88respectively bringing the lines 19--80 and 11-82 at one end and thelinesB4-81 and 86--89 at the other end into juxtaposition. The foldedends are then sewed along the last mentioned `lines leaving tabs 91, 19,80, 92 and 86, 94, 93, 89 respectively to which the top portion `of thedevice I may be sewed, or, if itis desired' to provide an addedprecaution `againstthe possibility of the ends tearing out, they maybesewed to the bottom I. The double row of holes83 and 90 Will from lightvWeight duck" or similar material. The

-member 2 is irregularly shaped and the edge Vsection 53-62 of themember I2.` The edge 20-23 of the member 3 issewed to the right side ofthebottom l starting at `the point I9. `The Hedges' I8-I9 and 2I-2 ofthe members 2 and 3 respectively are sewn together;

At the head end, a member 6, also made of light Weight duck or similarmaterial, "has its edge 34-#31 sewed to the bottom I along the linesewed to `the edge 23--22 of the. member 3.'

A side member 9, constructed from the same material as the priormentioned side members and corresponding to member 3, has its edge544-53 sewed tol the left side of the bottom` I starting at the point81.` Its edge 54-55 is sewed to the edge 31`35 of the member 5.

A side member 8, constructed from the same `material asthe member 9, isarranged to' have itsedge 43-44 detachably fastened to `the left side ofthe bottom I` preferablyrby a zipper 101,

starting from the point 15. The edge`43-4`6-41 of the member 8 is sewedto the section 1li-59 of the member I2.` The edges 44-45 and 53-56 ofthe side members 8 and 9, respectively, are arranged to be detachablyfastened together, preferably by means of `zipper HI8.` o I From theconstruction' thus far described,` it will be seen that there has beenprovided a strong supporting hammock bottom I`l'1aving grommetedopenings 83 and 9D at either end to which" supporting cords may beattached and having troughlike sides of solid, but light weight materialformed by the members-2, 3, 6, 8, 9 and I2.. The @depth of the sides ispreferably4 to 8 inches.

now appear as asingle row of holes at each end `Along the right sideofthe hammock there are provided irregularly` shaped members 4 and 5 ofmosquito' netting. 'The member `5`has its edge The edge 34-35 of themember 6 is 28-24' sewed'to the edge 2|-22 of the member 3 and its edge26--21-28 sewed to the edge 3|-30-29 of the member 4. The member 4 hasits edge 33-20 sewed to the edge II-I8 of the member 2 and its edge32-33 Vsewed to the edge 64-63 of the end member |2.

Similarly.. along the left side of the hammock there are providedirregularly shaped members I and II of mosquito netting.. The member IIhas its edge 5l-6I sewed to the edge 56-55 of the member 9 and its edge51-58-59 detachably attached, preferably by a continuation of the zipper|08, to the edge 52--5I-50 of the member I0.

The member I0 has its edge 48--52 sewed to the edge 41-45 of the member8 and its edge 48--49 sewed to the edge 69-68 of the end member It.` Atthe head end there is provided member 'I of mosquito netting havingitsedge 3.8-42 sewed to the edge 35-36 of member 0, thel edge .38-39sewed to the edge 24-25 of member 5 and the edge 42--4I sewed to theedge 6I60 of member II. f

From the construction thus described, and` due to the irregular shape ofthe side and end members, it Will be: seen that the vtop edges of theside members will', when the bottom I' of the hammock assumes the shapetaken when an individual. is supported thereon, form substantiallyhorizontal lines having their centers atv somewhat greater spacing thanat the ends, while the bottom edges of the sides will. form catenaries.Similarly, the end. members..` due to their shaping, will, under thesame conditions, form, at the top edge, an inverted Vy while theirbottom edges will also form catenaries. It will also be noted that theedgesv 64,-'-65 and IST- 68 of the member' I2 will form a portion of thetop edges of the'right and left sides,V respectively of the hammock.This will be apparent from a, consideration of Figs. 4 and 5 in whichthe points of attachment of the various members corresponding to thosejust described have been indicated in order .toV simplify theunderstanding of their arrangement.

Referring to Fig. 2 the construction and attachment of the canopy I3will be clear. The top edges of the side and end members are sewn to theunder side of the canopy I3 along the dotted line |06. The points markedout along this line. represent approximately where the correspondingpoints of the top edges of the side and end members will lie. At eachcorner of the canopy |3 there are provided looped tabs |00 through whicha spacing` member, as will bedescribed later, may be placed. Looped tabs|02l are placed at' the center of each end and, `if desired, similarlooped tabs I0'I may be placed on either side. The function of theseloops will be described later.

yExperience has shown thatwhen ordinary cots or .hammocks of usualconstruction are used for sleeping in. cold weather, it is necessary tohave as much bed clothing underneath as on top of the sleeper. This isbecause of' the fact that, with any movement at all of the surroundingair, the air which has `been heated by body warmth is rapidly displacedby cold air resulting in a continual loss of body heat.

In order to prevent this occurrence and, consequently, halving thenumber of required blankets, I provide a falsebottom Mito my hammock.This false bottom is sewed to the edges of the true-bottom but, as willrappear from a comparison oi Figs. l and 3, is of greater overalldimensions. Referring to these two iigures the construction and methodof attaching the false- .bottom I 4 to the hammock will be clear. The

vair within it which will be heated by the body and act as an insulatingbuffer between the body and the surrounding cold air.

In addition to this function, the false bottom, in conjunction with thelower side walls, provides a barrier through which insects and smallreptiles will not be able to bite the sleeper.

The arrangement for supporting my improved hammock lwill be clear from aconsiderationJ of Fig. 6. The hammock is strung up as usual between thesupports 'I I0 :by means. of supporting cords |09 passing through thegrommeted openings 83- and 90 and to commonrings III. A line is thenattached from each-ofthe center end tabs |02 ofI thecanopy to thesupports..` Preferably the canopy lines are elastic orare provided withsprings IIZ so that, should-the support cords |09 break, the hammockwill not be torn as the bottom falls. Spacing members I I3 are passedthrough the corner `loops' |00 of the canopy to form an1 A-type roof."The spacing ymembers ||3 may be made `of any convenient material and byvarying their length the. angle of the canopy can be adjusted-toanydesirable degree. From the center side tabs IOI and the vent the wind-from upsetting the canopy in stormy weather. v

c While I have described my invention solely foruse as acanopiedhammock, itis clear that it is equally suited for use as` asleeping bag or as a ground tent. When. used as-a ground tent the lineacross the center tabsI |Il|` forms the ridge and the slack taken upbythe sides to form the curved bottom of the hammock is used to permitthev formation of an apex along this line. In order to insure weathertightness, all members, with the exception of the netting are water--proofed, and all seams waxedafter sewing.

While I have described a single embodiment of Y my invention, it is tobe understood thatl do not 'a hammock', means for supportingthe'ham'mock -at its ends in'spaced relation to the canopy,

said hammock including side edges, end and side members provided withnetting portions and in- `cluding upper and loweredges, said upper andlower edges of said end members secured tothe hammock and canopyadjacent to oppositeends thereof and to said side members, the loweredges of the side members secured to opposite side edges of the hammockand said upper edgesof the side members secured at their ends to saidcanopy and rextending longitudinally in spaced relation on oppositesides of said ridge and said lower edges of the end `and sidemembersshaped to form substantially catenary-like curvatures at the endsand side edges of f the hammock when thehammockis occupiedwhereby anystrain is `equally distributed overthe entire device. i

i l 2.2A device of `thecharacter describedfcomprising, in combination, acanopy supported at opposite ends 'and including a central ridge,spreadermembers mounted on the `ends of said canopy and holdingthelsides thereof in` spaced relation, a l'iammock,` means supportingthehammock in spaced relation to the canopy, saidhammock including sideedges, irregularly shaped end 4and side members provided with nettingportions andiincluding lower and upper edges, said upl peryand loweredges of` the end memberssecurcd to the hammock and canopy adjacenttoopposite ends thereof and to said side members, said lower edges oftheside members secured to opposite side edges'of the hammock,andsaidupper edges thereof secured; at their ends to the canopy and`extending `in spaced `relation on* opposite sides ci said ridge, afalseA botto-m provided on Y said hammocmsaid lower edges of the end andside members shaped to form substantially catenary-lilnel curvaturesatthe ends and side edgesof the hammock when the hammock is occupied.whereby anystrain is equally distributed over the entire device. f

3. A` device `of thecharacterdescribed comprising, in combination, a`canopy including a cen- ,tral ri dge` means `for supporting the" canopy,`spreader `members mounted on ends of said canopy@v and holding thesides thereof in spaced relation, a hammock, means supporting thehammock in spaced relation tothe canopy, `said hammock including sideedges, end `andside members provided with ,netting portions andincluding' lower and upper edges, `said lower and upper edges `of theend members secured adjacent Vto opposite ends of thehammock and canopyandtosaid side members, said side members including connected sections,said lower edges of the side members securedvto opposite side edges ofthe hammock and said upper edgesof the sidemembers `secured at `theirends tothe canopy and extending in `spaced relation on opposite sides ofsaid ridge adjacent to outer longitudinal edges ofthe canopy, certain ofsaid sectionson a side member detachablyconnected together andto saidham,-l mock, and saidlower edges of the end and `side members shaped toyform `substantially catenary- J'like curvatures at the ends andlongitudinal side edges of the hammock when the hammock is occupiedwhereby `any strain in occupying then;

said joined sections of the end members formed of netting, said loweredges of the side members secured to opposite longitudinal side edges ofthe hammock and said upper edges of the side members secured at theirends to the canopy and extending longitudinally in spaced relation outof contact with the canopy on opposite sides of said ridge, said loweredges of the end and side members shapedto formtsubstantiallycatenary-like curvatures at the ends and longitudinal side edges of thehammock and said upperedges of the side members shaped to contact withsaid canopy when thehammock: is occupied whereby any strain in occupying`the hammock is equally distributed overthe entire device. u 1

l 5; A device'otthebharacter described having, in combination, ahammocksupported at its ends and comprisinga longitudinally extending bottomsupporting member, end attaching means,`

'supporting cordsconnected to the end attaching means, 'irregularlyshaped foot, head and side membershaving ends and upper and lower edges,saidfoot member including annverted V-shaped portion on its upper edgeand a `V-shaped portion" on its lower edge `and saidupper edge `of the'head member having an inverted V-shape, said V-shaped portionon thelower edge of said foot" member secured to the bottom supporting memberadjacent to one of `its ends andthe lower edge of said head membersecured to thebottom supporting member adjacent to another end'`thereofj said lower edges of the side members secured to oppositelongitudinal side edges oi the bottom supporting member and said ends oflthe fdot and head members secured to the ends of saidsidem'embers, alongitudinally extending.

canopy supported at its ends above said hammock and secured to' theinverted V-shaped portion on the upper edge of the foot member and thelinvertedwV-shaped upper edge of the head member Vand to the ends of theupper edges of the side membersgspreader members mounted onthe endsof-said `canopy and holding the sides thereof Vinspaced relation,L saidcanopy including a lon'- Agitudinal `central ridge and having a greaterlengtlrand width than said hammock whereby the canopy extendsoutwardlyfrom the longitudinal edges `of the hammock, foot, head `and sidemembersgtsaid upper edgesof the side members extending longitudinally inspaced relation l on opposite sides oisaid ridge and said lower edgesofthe foot, head` and side members adaptedto form substantiallycatenary-like curvatures at `thei ends and longitudinal side edges ofthe hammock upon the hammock being occupied whereby any strainin`occupying the hammock is equally distributed over the device.` 1

6. A device of `the character `described having, in combination, ahammock supported atits ends and comprising a longitudinally` extendingbottom supporting member, end `attaching means, `supporting cordsconnected to the end attaching :means'end .and s ide` members, said endand side members having ends and lower and upper edges,

said lower edges of the end members secured to the bottom supportingmember adjacent to oppo-` site ends thereof, said lower edges of theside members secured to opposite longitudinalside edges of the bottomsupporting member and said ends of the end members secured to the endsof the side ,members a longitudinally extending canopy supported at itsends above said hammock and secured to the upper edges of the endmembers' and to ends `of the upper edges of the side members, saidcanopy including a longitudinal central ridge and having a greaterlength and width than said bottom supporting member whereby the canopyextends outwardly :from` the end and side members, spreader membersmounted on the ends of said canopy and holding the sides thereof inspaced relation, said upper edges of the side members extendinglongitudinally in spaced relation on opposite sides of said `ridge andshaped to be out of contact with said' canopy `when the hammock isunoccupied and p to. ..bec.ome rectilinear for contacting. with saidcanopy upon'the hammock being occupied and said lower edges of the endand side members shaped to form substantially catenary-like curvatureson the ends and longitudinal side edges of l the bottom supportingmember upon the hammock being occupied whereby any strain is equallydistributed over the entire. device.

. '2. A combined canopy and hammock assembly comprising, in combination,a canopy, means supporting 'the ends of the canopy, spreader meansmounted on the canopy at the ends thereof and holding the sides thereofin spaced relation, Y

andside edges of the hammock when the ham-v mock is occupied whereby anystrain is equally distributed over the entire device.

8. Aicombined canopy and hammock assembly comprising, in combination, acanopy provided witha 'centrallyl extending ridge, means supporting theends of the canopy, spreader means `mounted on the canopy at the endsthereof and holding the sides thereof in spaced relation, a hammock,means supporting the hammock in spaced relation to the canopy, saidhammock including side edges, side andV endmembers includingnetting'portions and having upper, lower and sideedges, saidmembers'being united along their side edges and attachedl at their upper edgesto said canopy,fsaid lower edges of said members attached to the ends'and side edges off said hammock and shaped to form substantiallycatenary- `like curvatures at the ends and side edges of the vhammockwhen the hammock is occupied whereby any strain is equally distributedover the entire device.

9. A canopy and hammock assembly combined in a unitary, flexiblestructure and comprising, in combination, a canopy, means supporting theends of the canopy, spreader means mounted on the canopy at the endsthereof andholding the sides thereof `in spaced relation, a hammock,means supporting the hammock in spaced relation to thecanopy, saidhammock including side edges, side and end members including lnettingportions and having upper, lower and side edges and lend'members havingupper, lower and side edges, said members being united along their sideedges to. said canopy and attached vat their lower'edges to saidhammock, said end members being shaped tov allow their upper edges` toconform to the shape of the canopy and said side members being shaped toallow their upper edges to form horizontal lines, said lower edges ofsaid side and end members shaped to form substantially catenary likecurvatures at the `ends and side edges of the hammock when the hammockis occupied .Where- 'by any strain is equally distributed over theentire device. 10., A canopy andv hammock assembly combined inv aunitary, flexible structure andcomprising, in'combination, a canopyprovided with a centrally extending ridge, means supporting the canopyat itsopposite ends inthe line of said ridge, spreader'means mounted onthe canopy at the ends thereof and holding the sides thereof` in spacedrelation, a hammock,'means supporting the hammock in spaced relation tothe canopy, said hammock including side edges, side and end membersincluding netting' portions and having upper, lower and side edges,`said members being .united along their side edges and attached at theirupper edges. to said canopy, said lower edges of ysaid rmembers shapedto form substantially catenary-like curvatures at the` ends and sideedges of said hammock when the hammock is occupied whereby any strain isequally distributed over the'entire device.

' 11. A canopy and. hammock assembly combined in a. unitary, eXiblestructure and comprising, in combination, a canopy provided with acentrally. extending ridge, means supporting the canopy at'its oppositeends in the line of said ridge, spreader means mounted o'n the canopy atthe ends thereof andholding the sides thereof in spaced relation, a.hammock, means supporting the hammock in'spaced relation to the canopy,

said hammock including side edges, side and end members includingnettingv portions and having upper, lower and side edges, said membersbeing united along their side edges and attached at their f upper edgesto said canopy, said lower edges of Y said members shapedA to formsubstantially catenary-like` curvatures at the ends and side edges ofthe hammock when the hammockv is occupied whereby any strain is equallydistrib-A uted over `the entire device, and slide fastening means inconnection with one of said side members to afford access to theinterior of said hammock.

CRESSON H. KEARNY-

